Ok, so i have 2 RES turtles in a nice big tank inside. I have had them since last march. They stinky. Its ridiculous because i will go and super clean the tank, scrub it out, rinse and soap and rinse real good, then clean the water and heat it up for them in all, and that takes like 2 or 3 hours. About 3 days later its filthy with green alge and nasty green and poopy water with chunks of what looks like turtle skin?? Is there some kind of cleaner i can use that wont harm the turtles to keep it cleaner? The filter i have is fine, and i replace the filter often. My goldfish have a tank cleaner that you pour in the water and it doesnt hurt em, and it literally makes the water very clean. Can i use that with turtles?
Ideally, you should use as much water as your tank can safely hold. A tank that is roughly 10 gallons per inch of the turtles SCL is recommended. Therefore, a 4” turtle should be in at least a 40 gallon tank. Waste has a better opportunity to dilute and break down (with the correct filter media) in a greater amount of water.
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Fundamentally, water should be tested for ammonia, hardness, nitrites and nitrates, and pH levels and treated for chlorine and chloramine. Various test kits are available and there are treatment options to create specific water conditions. While regular water changes will help reduce harmful ammonia and nitrite levels, it is recommended that you be aware of what is in the water you choose to use for your turtle.
Medicated blocks (usually in the shape of a white turtle), either described as a calcium supplement, sulfur medication or water conditioner should not be used. They are not proven to provide any benefit and in some cases have negative results. Other treatments aimed at reducing ammonia, algae or removing waste should be avoided, as regular water changes are much safer and healthier
Measuring Water Quality
Pet stores carry test kits for ammonia, nitrates and nitrites. Monitoring the levels of these can help you catch conditions in the tank that can be irritating or harmful for your turtles. Check with the pet store and follow the directions included with the kits (the instructions will also have information on safe and dangerous levels of each chemical). If the levels of ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites are too hight, do a complete water change. If you find your levels are moderate or creeping up, do more frequent partial water changes (or a complete change).
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com The pH (a measure of acidity) is not as critical as the waste products, but measuring pH is also a good idea. Generally red eared sliders are pretty tolerant of small pH changes, but picking up on the changes can alert you to the fact that the chemistry in your turtle's water is changing. The pH should be in the range of 6-8 for red eared sliders. Products can be found at the pet store that can be used to safely lower or raise the pH if necessary.
Filters
Between feeding and defecating, turtles are pretty messy creatures. A turtle tank should include a good filtration system such as a power filter or canister filter. Choose a filter rated for at lease double the amount of water you will be filtering. Filtration will reduce the frequency of water changes, but your turtles will still require 25% water changes weekly and a thorough cleaning once a month or more. Feeding your turtle in a separate container helps minimize the mess in the tank and reduces the load on the filtration system.
